Judith Graham reports for Kaiser Health News on several programs that offer free and low-cost benefits to help older adults cover the cost of basic needs. Today, millions of people are not taking advantage of them. Here’s how to get some of these benefits.
There are literally thousands of programs intended to help older adults pay for health care, food, transportation and housing, among other needs. Some are targeted to people with low incomes and assets and others are open to everyone.
How can you learn about these programs? Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). To reach your AAA, visit the Eldercare Locator, a service of the federal Administration on Aging, or call 800-677-1116.
Reach out now! Plan ahead. Know what’s available and how to apply. Check out these federal programs:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides help paying for food. But, it is estimated that more than 13 million people over 60 who could benefit from SNAP–71 percent of those eligible–are not receiving this help. Benefits for single older adults are typically over $100 a month.
- Medicare Savings Programs provide help paying Medicare premiums, and sometimes also deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. The benefit is worth more than $170 a month. But. around three million eligible older adults are not receiving these benefits. They are available through your Medicaid office.
- Help paying Medicare Part D prescription drug costs is available through the Low-income Subsidy (LIS) program, sometimes called the Extra Help program. This benefit can be worth more than $400 a month. But, more than three in ten older adults are not receiving this help.
- Federally Qualified Health Centers offer free and low-cost primary health care services. They are located in thousands of places throughout the US.
You might also qualify for:
- Home-delivered meals.
- Legal assistance for older adults facing foreclosures and evictions.
- Property tax break programs.
- Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP, which helps to pay your electric bills.
Here’s more from Just Care:
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